Player-operated means for positioning pins of bowling alleys



APril 1948. J. E. LAFERRIERE 2,440,013

PLAYER-OPERATED MEANS FOR POSITIONING PINS OF BOWLING ALLEYS Filed May -1 2, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Josep ELofei'vaera M Hays April 20, 1948. J. E. LAFERRIEREI PLAYER-OPERATED MEANS FOR POSITIONING PINS OF BOWLING ALLEYS Fil ed May 12, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 A ril 20, 1948.

J.- E. LAFERRIERE 2,440,013 PLAYER-OPERAZED MEANS FOR POSITIONING PINS OF BOWLING ALLEYS Filed May 12, 1945 8 Sheets-Shet 5 Jose HELQ (227 14? 5yZ @L%,.M/,M diii'ys J. E. LAFERRIERE April 20, 1948.

8 sheets sheet 4 Filed May 12, 1945 Jose hELcferz'iere.

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April 20, 1948.

PLAYER-OPERATED J. E. LAFERRIERE 2,440,013 MEANS FOR POSITIONING PINS OF BQWLING ALLEYS Filed May 12, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 5 n30? JosephELge W'i/er e,

April 20, 1948. J. 5. LAFERRIERE PLAYER-OPERATED MEANS FOR POSITIONING PINS OF BOWLING ALLEYS Filed May 12, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fig.8.

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PLAYER-OPERATED MEANS FOR POSITIONING PINS OF BOWLING ALLEYS Filed May 12, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Apr. 20, 1948 PLAYER-OPERATED MEANS FOR POSITION- ING PINS OF BOWLING ALLEYS Joseph E. Laferriere, Boston, Mass.

Application May 12, 1945, Serial No. 593,376

12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to player-operated means for positioning pins of bowling alleys.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, I have disclosed the selected embodiment in the accompanying drawings, wherein 7 Figs. 1 and 1A, taken together constitute a plan view of a'bowling alley constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail mainly in vertical longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1A;

Fig. 3 is a detail in transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4 v of Fig. 1A;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation as viewed from a position in front of the playing pins and representing the latter in playing position;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a front elevation similar to Fig. 5, but with the dead wood elevated from the floor;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the upper frame with the guiding uprights shown in transverse section;

Fig. 9 is a similar View of the lower frame;

Fig. 10 is a front elevation viewed from the players position, with the manipulating apparatusin its condition prior to the commencement of play;

Fig. 11is a view similar to Fig. 10, but showing the position of the manipulating parts just after the first ball has been played and three pinshave been knocked down, the apparatus having been manipulated by the player to remove the dead wood pins knocked down by the previously rolled ball;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of that portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a vertical section of the ball elevator and immediately associated parts taken on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 1;

Fi 14 is a vertical section on the line I4I4 of Fig. 13; and

Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are respectively a plan, a side elevation and a cross section of an alternative, preferable means for taking up the shock provide not only mechanical means for setting up the pins of bowling alleys after all the pins have been knocked down or all the ball-s have been played, but also to provide mechanical means for removing the dead wood from the floor or setting-up area immediately after the rolling of each ball, or at such other time or times as desired.

The size and proportion of parts may be widely varied within the scope of my invention, the pins may be of any desired size, shape and number, and the size of the balls will be varied accordingly. My invention provides means for bowling according to the usual rules of play. In the selected embodiment of the invention, the

pins are represented as so-called Boston pins,

but they may be bottle pins or some other type or character of pins. In such embodiment of the the invention the pins are represented as ten in number and for clearness of description they are numbered 1 to 10 inclusive, and the arrangement thereof when set up is in the present disclosure the usual triangular arrangement indicated in Fig. 9. The invention is in no wise limited to any particular size or proportion of parts and any suitable material or materials may be employed for the various parts, such as wood, metal, etc.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, where a single embodiment only of the invention 7 is shown (excepting that alternative means are upon the cords attached to the pins when the latter are struck.

Owing to war conditions and for other reasons, it is difficult at the present time to obtain the services of pin boys for bowling alleys, and this has required, the closing down or the handicapping of a great many such places of amusement.

An important purpose of my invention is to shown for taking up the shock on the cords when the pins attached thereto are knocked down), and referring first and briefly to Figs. .10 and 11, it will be noted that I have assigned the numerals la to Illa. to the pulleys and handles pertaining toi the cords attached to the ten pins respectively, and in order that such cords shall not be crossed with or interfere with each other, they extend from the respective pins to the points indicated in Figs. .10 and 11, and the numbers of the ten pins are placed over the said pulleys respectively. as shown in said figures.

The bowling alley itself may be of the usual length and proportions, such as a length of sixty feet from the rear of the pit to the front of the apparatus. The playing pit is modified or altered from the usual construction, because there are no pin boys. Referring briefly to the structure of the pit and for that purpose referring to Figs. 1, 13 and 14, the pit, as best shown in Fig. 1, is provided with a bottom composed of three triangular downwardly sloping areas converging to a single point or small area, the three said downwardly sloping areas being indicated at H, l2, :3, so as to direct each played ball to the position or point indicated by the dotted line ball is in Fig. 1. Each of the three balls when played enters the pit and they are accumulated as shown at l5, l6, H, in Fig. 14, in the elevator l8 supported for vertical movement in an upright chamber l9 which has in cross section the shape of the elevator E8 in cross section. The elevator l8 has an opening 29 and the chamber l9 has an aligned opening 2i for the entry of the three balls which, when the elevator is raised into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 14, are .discharged through an opening 22 into the chute 23 properly inclined to cause the balls to roll back to the player's position at the front of the .apparatus. The means for operating the elevator l8 will be described at a subsequent point so as to present a more orderly description of the construction and working of the entire apparatus.

The apparatus near the pit end is provided with two lateral uprights shown in horizontal section in Figs. 1, 8, and 9, and in Figs. and '7 at 24 and 25. Guided by the said lateral uprights 2d, 25 are two horizontally arranged frames 26, 2?, each provided with ten holes triangularly arranged as shown in accordance with the set-up of the pins for the passage of the cords therefrom. If the pins are to be set up in a different arrangement, the shape of the frame 2 7 and the location and number or the holes in frames 25, 21 would be changed or varied accordingly. The upper frame is indicated in its entirety at 26 and the lower one at 2'1. The upper frame 26, shown in position in Figs, 5, 6 and elsewhere, is shown separately in Fig. 8. As there indicated, it is of a general rectangular form and .consists'of suitable transverse members 28, 23a, 28b, 28c-and28d, and lateral members 29, 29a, all suitably secured together so that the said frame may readily be moved up and down upon the upright guides 213, 25.

The lower frame 2'5, which is positioned below, in parallelism with, and close to the frame 26, is in the disclosed embodiment of my invention made up of the three members 3%, 30a, 3% .secured together in triangular form so as to conform to the playing position of the ten pins 1 to Hi, which are indicated in dotted lines in Fig. :9, together with suitable guiding means. The apparatus is also provided with a transversely extending cross bar 3!, shown in Fig. .5, as near the upper ends of the uprights 24, 25, and with opposite, longitudinally extending bars 31a, 51a, and if desired, as shown in 'Fig. 6, there may be inclined reinforcing bars 32, 33, such bars being provided for each upright 24, 25. They extend downward and are secured to suitable members of the framing, as best indicated in Fig. 6.

In the framing, as indicated in the several fig ures, there are suitable cross rods or stationary shafts upon which are mounted pulleys which, as indicated in Figs. 1A, and '11, are thirteen in number to receive the ten cords attached to the ten pins, two cords attached to means for raising and lowering the movable frame 25 and one cord which is attached to the movable frame 21 to elevate both frames 2G, 2? to the position shown in Fig. 7 for the elevation of dead wood.

As the apparatus herein disclosed is intended to be played, there are provided three balls to be played successively by any number of persons, or by a single person rolling the three balls in succession. Preferably after each ball is played the resulting dead wood is, by the manipulation stout material.

connecting top piece or bar '42.

of the apparatus, elevated from the floor, and I will next describe the means for accomplishing this. For that purpose I will refer particularly to Figs. 5, 6 and 7. In Fig. 5 the pins are all set for bowling, no ball having yet been rolled. Because of the triangular set-up of the pins, in this embodiment of the invention, only seven of the ten are visible in Fig. 5, but it will be understood that all ten pins are set up in the relation to each other indicated in Fig. 9. Permanently attached to the pins are a corresponding number-of cords ii) to iiib respectively. Such cords, which are non-elastic, are made of suitable fibrous material that will withstand much wear, being, for example, of the general character of the cords of fishing tackle, made of linen or other suitable They are firmly secured to or within the upper ends of the pins and, as shown inFigsgfi, 6 and 7, the ten cords are of sufficient length to provide slack, as indicated in said figures, when the pins are in playing position or are knockeddown. The said cords to to Job extend from the pins upward through individual .holes in both the frames 25, '21, and theme, as indivcated partly in Fig. 6 and more particularly in Figs. 1 and 1A, to the players position. I provide means for taking up shock upon. each of the cords. I may provide any suitable means for the purpose and have shown two alternativetmeans. One or such means is shown in :Figs. 6 and '11. Therein each or the said cords l-b to Job is =provided preferably at the location represented in Figs. 6 and 7, with strong spiral springs 34 to take up the shock. I may instead use. the means shown in Figs. 15, 16 and 17, which is the preforable means for. the purpose in certainzcases.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 1A, the ten cords-1b to Hib extend upward through the lower and upper frames 26, 21, thence extend forward, passing over a suitable transversely extend-ins bar 35 desirably near midlength of the apparatus, and then over another transversely extending bar 36 in the rear of the players end of :the

apparatus, at which latter point they -are.re ceived upon the ten pulleys la to 1011 already described, and which are shown :in plan at 'the right hand end of Fig. 1A. The said ten pulleys (and three others to be subsequently referred to) are loosely mounted upon the transversely extending rod or stationary shaft 31, best shown in Figs. 1A, 2, 10, 11 and 12 as mounted at :its ends in suitable supports or brackets 38, '39 in an upright framing consisting of two upright members '40, 41 and a transversely extending,

While said 11prights 40, 4| are shown as rising from the floor, they may be otherwise supported, as fromth'e ceiling, or they may terminate short of the floor and besupported by the partitions or side walls of the alleys, as by being bolted thereto a suitable distance above the floor. Upon the top piece or bar are placed the numbers of the ten pins, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

Supported with a suitable amount of friction upon the uprights 40, 41, so that it may be manually slid up and down, is a transversely extending member 43, shown in its upper position in Fig. 10 and in its lower position in Fig. 11, being also shown in its upper position in full lines in Fig. 12 and in itslower position in dotted lines in Fig. 12. 'I .provide suitable locking means to hold it down, such as the pivoted turn but tons 43a, 431:, shown in Fig. 11. It is provided with a suitable handle 44 which may be grasped by one of the players and manipulated. It is provided along nearly its entire length with a flange-like portion or outwardly extending edge 45. having therein ten notches 46, one for each ofthe ten cords connected to the ten pins l to ID. Above the edge transversely extending bar 45a suitably supported by the framing and having therethrough ten holes for the passage of the ten cords attached to the pins l to ID.

At the commencement of play the member 43 occupies the position shown in Fig. and in solid lines in Fig. 12. Let it be assumed that the result of rolling the first ball by the first player is to knock down the three pins I, 4 and l, as numbered in Figs. 10 and 11. Thereupon one of the players, as, for example, the one who rolls the first ball and knocks down the three pins I, 4 and I, grasps the handles Ia, 4a, la pertaining to the pins as said handles are positioned as shown in Fig. 10, and draws the said handles down sufiiciently so that the cords pertaining thereto are engaged in the notches provided for those three cords respectively in the flange or edge 45, so that the said three handles engage at their upper ends the under side of the flange or edge .45. This position of the three handles la, 4a, 1a is shown in'Fig. 11, but with the frame 43 drawn downward which, however, is preferably done later.

The triangular frame 27, shown in Fig. 9, is provided, in addition to the three triangularly arranged members 30, 30a, 36b, with the parallel transversely extending members 30c, 36d, which have a sliding engagement with the two uprights 24, 25.

According to the rules of the game (but to which my invention is not restricted), such first player also rolls the second and third balls, and after rolling the second ball he grasps the handles attached to the .cords pertaining to the pins knocked down by his second ball and engages said cords in the proper notches 46 just as he did after rolling the first ball, having for this purpose sliddownwardly the transverse member 43 and locked the same in position by the turn buttons 43a, 43b, or he may merely pull the handles and cords down sufficiently to engage them in the proper notches.

The said first player having rolled three balls, disengages all the handles pertaining to the "dead wood from the notches 46 in the edge 45 so that the pins can be set up again for the second player. a

The said next step in the playing operation is to set up all the ten pins I to Hi again for the second player. This is done by movement of the rectangular member 26, shown in Fig. 8. For this purpose the said rectangular frame 26 has connected thereto, at or near the four corners thereof, four cords 41, 48, 49, 56. These four cords extend over four pulleys 41a, 48a, 49a and 50a, and thence downwardly, as shown best in Fig. 6, where they are represented as passing .45 there is providedathrough the said upper frame 26, being knotted or otherwise fastened at the under side of said frame. The said pulleys 41a to Sta are mounted upon the members 3| a of the framing, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The four cords 41 to so, as best shown in Fig. 1,

converge to a meeting point 5|. There they are attached to a single cord 52, shown in Fig. 1A as extending to a pulley block 53 provided with an eye 54 receiving the cord 52. In said pulley block 53 are several pulleys, preferably three in number, 55, 56, 51. The pulley block 53 is movable in the operation of the apparatus as described. There is provided another pulley block 58 shown in Fig. 1A, which is stationary, being mounted on a suitable bracket 59, shown in Fig. 2, fast to the ceiling or some suitable part of the apparatus. In said stationary pulley block 58 are two pulleys 66, 6|. and attached to the pulley block is an eye 62. Fastened to said eye 62 is one end of a cord 63 which, as shown in Fig. 1A, extends under and over the pulley 55, then to the pulley 66 of the stationary pulley block 58, passing over and under the same and thence back to and under the pulley 56 of the movable pulley block 53, thence over that pulley 56 to the pulley 6| of the stationary pulley block 58, thence under said pulley 6| and thence under and over the pulley 51 in the movable pulley block 53 and then straight forward as shown in Fig. 1A and over the pulley 64 at the right of the apparatus, where it terminates in a handle 64a. The use of pulleys and pulley blocks permits the manipulation of the cord 63 by the application of a minimum amount of force.

Having described the construction of this part of the apparatus, it is to be noted that at the proper time or times one of the players pulls down upon the handle 64a, and in so doing pulls upon the handle 64a sufiiciently to move the frame 26 from the ful1-1ine position shown in Fig. 5 to the dotted line position shown in said figure. This results in lowering the frame 21. Then a player pulls the pin cords from the playersstation so as to move the pins into upright position in engagement with the frame 21. Both the frames 26, 21 are then returned to their original positions, and the cords are released to provide the required slack therein. The shock absorbing spiral springs 34 (see Figs. 5 and 6) or the alternative shock absorbing means shown in Figs. 15, 16 and 17, are located at the upper face of the frame 26 and take up the shock or pull upon each of the cords, the pin whereof is knocked down by a rolled ball. Of course, any pins which occupy such a position as indicated by the pins I, 4 and 1 (Fig. 7) have been previously released by a player at the playing position by manipulation of the cord'handles pertaining to such pins.

The rectangular frame 26 is connected to the triangular frame 21 by two cords 65, 66, shown in Fig. -25. The said'cords are looped over pulleys 65a, 66a, and at their two ends extend through and terminate in knots beneath and against the said frames 26, 21. Thus when the frame 26 is elevated for the resetting of the pins after the first player has had his turn, the triangular frame 21 descends and assumes the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. This positioning of the triangular frame 21 in its dotted line position, Fig. 5, results, when the slack in the cords is taken up, in the positioningof the ten pins I to ID in the proper position on the floor because,v

as already described, the said triangular frame 21 has the ten holes'therein for the passage of the ten cords pertaining to the ten pins l to II).

It is necessary now to get the two frames 26, 27 back into their full line positions shown in Fig. 5. To do this, it is merely necessary for one of the players to release the handle for the cord 63 which passes over the pulley 64, and the weight of the descending frame 26 and the operation of another cord yet to be referred to restore said frames to their full line position shown in Fig. 5. The parts of the apparatus are now in position ano e 1c 7 for the next player to take his turn with three balls.

In order to insure the getting oi the *two rrames 26, 11 back into their full line position shown in Figs. '5 and 6, there is provided another cord 61, best shown in Fig. 1 at the left handend thereof, which passes about the pulley 68b suitably sup ported from the ceiling or upon the apparatus. Oneend of said cord t! is connected to the other described cords at the point 51 at the right hand end of Fig. =1. The other end of said cord 651, as shown in Fig. 1A, wherein it :is .in :part broken away, passes, as shown in Fig. 2, over the pulley 61a fastened to the ceiling, and then over the pulley 158 on the rod v3! and terminates in-a ham die 58a, shown .in Figs. 10 and 11. By pulling on the :h'andletlla the pulley block 53 is pulled backward or to the left viewing Fig. 1A, and this restores the two frames 26, 11 to the full line :position shown .inFig. 5.

After the handle 68a has been pulled @to move the two :irames 2 S, .21 :into the position shown in Figs. .5 and ii, it is necessary to move ":both of said frames 26, 21 still higher, because of the dead wood depending below the :frame :21, as indicated in Fig. '7. The frames 25, 2-1 are moved to a higher position so that pins knocked down may be drawn upwardly by a player to a position high enoughto prevent interference with-further play. If the frames 26, 21 were not both-elevated from the position shown in .Figs. '5 and 6 to the position shown in Fig. 7, the deadwood" =(not, however, shown in Figs. -5 and 6.) would be too low (that is, too near :the floor) and might interfere with further playing. For this purpose there is provided means for moving in unison the said two frames 26, 21 from their position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 into the :still higher position shown in Fig. '7. Such means includes another cord :69, best shown in Fig. 1A as extending over a pulley It! and terminating as shown in 10 and 11 in :a handle em. The said cord 69 extends or continues over a pulley 65a in bracket 59 (Fig.2). The said :cord .59 extends to the left as a single cord :to the point 1|, Fig. where it becomes two cords i la. Ii-lb, shown at the extreme left in Fig. 1A. These two cords Flla, -'Il;b continue to diverge and extend over two pulleys I2, 13, shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and continue .down, as shown in said :figures, to the triangular zframe 21 to which they are suitably connected Thus a sufiioient pull upon the handle Jlia elevates both frames :25, 2.! to the position shown in Fig. '7.

I have described the-elevator i8 'andiassociated parts at a previous point. The means foroperat-ing "the elevator consists of a. cord FM, shown'ln Figs. 13 .and 14, as connected to the top of the elevator :18, thence it passes over a pulley 1-5 :secured :to the ceiling or to some-part :of the apparatus and thence extends, as shown in Fig. .2, over the pulley 15a, shown in Fig. I3, and thence down :to a clamp it which is .adiustably connected to the cord 63, :as shown also in Fig. 1A. Therefore, pulling movement imparted at the proper time to the cord :63 serves .also to operate the elevator and discharge the three balls into the chute '23. ,By the use of the adjustable clamp 16 the cord Moan besomewhat loosened or tightene'd if desired.

I have described the .use, :as shown in. Rigs. 6 and '7, ofcspiralsprings 34 to take up the shock or pull upon each one of the cords, the pin whereof is knocked down by a rolled ball. instead of using such spiral springs I may, and in certain instances prefer to use a construction or assembly 8 of levers and weights, shown in Figs. 15, 16 and 1 7, provided for each one of the ten or other number of cords attached to the ten or other number of pins. In said figures, I mount upon the movable frame 26 at points in the vicinity of the openings for the ten cords,-1ever and'weight unit means, one or which is shown in Figs. '15,

1'6 and 17. Therein for the purpose there is provided a bifurcated bracket 11 secured to and up. standing from the upper surface-of the frame26. Therein is pivctally mounted at "-i-Ia a relatively long lever 18 normally occupying the horizontal position shown and having a short arm 18a and a longer opposite arm which, at the outer end thereof, carries a weight 18 which may be of any suitab1e s'1ze,-as,for example, a, two pound weight. It is preferably adjustably mount-ed upon the long arm of the lever 18 and the length of said long arm may be considerably in excess of the length of the .arms'soi the other lever to be referred to. Secured to the lever 18, as by a pin 89, is a link 8! extending'upwardlyandhaving pivoted thereto .at 182 a lever .83, preferabl shorter than the lever 3113 and shown as having two :equal length arms and having on the outer end thereof a weight Bil, as,..for example, a one pound weight which may if desired Lbe adjustable. The opposite end .of the lever 63 is provided with an eye or hole through which passes the cord pertaining ;to one of the pins, it being understood that there is the same constructional? lever and weight arrangement .or assembly provided for each one of the ten 'cords attached to the ten pins litoifl.

In operation, when one of the pins is knocked down, the cord pertaining thereto, .as, for example, the cord tab, is violently pulled on (that is, downward viewing Fig. 6) with the iresult'that it pulls down on the end of the lever '83 having the 1 eye :85, :and the opposite end of said leverihaving the weightM-rises against theiorce of gravityilntil said. end having the eye '85 strikes the upper face of the short arm 18a of the lever 18 :and forces the same downward. Thedownward movement ofsaid .short arm 18a raises thelonger arm against the force of gravity acting on the weight 19 and such motion continues until the shock upon the cord is absorbed. 1

Having "thus :descrihedone embodiment of the invention, it .is to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and 'not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

I'claim:

1. Player-operated bowling apparatus "for use in usual bowling alleys and employing a ballot balls and a'set of pins 'to'be knocked over thereby, a series of non-elastic cords respectively :attached at one end 'to the pins and thence extending :to :and supported inconvenient position :to be pulled by the player or "players when standing at the player end of the bowling alley when the pins or any of them have been knocked down by it rolled ball, an upright at the player :end of the bowling alley, and upon which the said cords :are guidingly supported for player-manipulation when in the usual playing position, andzasli'dable inem-berlsupported upon said'zupriight for run-anddown manually-caused sliding movement, which slidable member is provided with formations .for engagement with each of said cords, said formations consisting of notches in a transversely extending part of said .slida'ble frame.

v2. Player-operated howling apparatus for use in usual bowling alleys and employing a ball or balls and a set of pins to be knocked over thereby; a series of non-elastic cords respectively attached at one end to the pins and thence extending to and pulley-supported in convenient position at the players end of the alley so as to be pulled by a player when standing at the player end of the alley when the pins or any of them have been knocked down by a rolled ball; two vertically movable frames supported verticall over the pins for up and down movement and each having holes therethrough for the passage of said cords respectively, said holes corresponding in number and playing position to all the pinsj cord-"like means connected at their opposite ends toth e two frames and looped between their ends over a suitable support above the said frames and the pins, so that as either of said frames descends the other frame rises, and vice versa; a cord operatively connected to and extending in a direction away from the upper one of said movable frames; a second cord at the players end of the bowling alley, and means connected to both said cords for transmitting the movement of one cord to the other, said second cord being in convenient position at the players end of the alley to be pulled upon by a player to elevate said upperframe and lower the other frame; a third cord extending to and pulley-supported in convenient position at the players end of the alley to be pulled upon by a player to move the two frames into meeting position at about mid-height for the purpose of permitting further play, said third cord being connected to the cord that extends in a direction away from the upper one'of said frames; and a fourth cord operatively connected to the lower one of said frames to raise such frame and there'- by to raise the other frame for lifting both of said frames together to their full height, said fourth cord extending to and pulley-supported in convenient position at the players end of the alley to be pulled upon by a player, the third cord being arranged to move the connecting means in a, direction opposite to that in which the said means is moved by the second cord so that the weight of the upper one of said two vertically movable frames will cause it to move downwardly and thereby raise the lower one of said two vertically movable frames.

3. Player-operated bowling apparatus in accordance with claim 2, but wherein all the pulleys which support the cords attached to the pins are supported upon a single shaft at the players position, and wherein the pulleys which support the cords for operating the two vertically movable frames are supported upon the said shaft at the players position.

4. Player-operated bowling apparatus for use in usual bowling alleys and employing a ball or balls and a set of pins to be knocked over thereby, a series of non-elastic cords respectively attached at one end to the pins and thence extending to and supported in convenient position to be pulled by a player when standing at the players end of the bowling alley when the pins or any of them have been knocked down by a rolled ball, an upright at the players end of the bowling alley, and upon which the said cords extending from the pins are guidingly supported for playermanipulation when in the usual playing position, and a vertically slidable member 43 extending transversely of the upright at the players end of the bowling alley and frictionally supported upon said upright so as to be manually slid up and down thereon, said cords each being respectively provided with cord-position-retaining enlargements, said slidable member being provided with formations for engaging with the said respective enlargements of the said cords, and thereby preventing movement thereof in one direction while so engaged.

5. Player-operated bowling apparatus for use in usual bowling alleys and employinga ball or balls and a set of pins to be knocked over thereby, a series of non-elastic .cords respectively attached at one end to the pins and thence extending to and supported in convenient position to be pulled by a player when standing at the players end of the bowling alley when the pins orany of them have been knocked down by 2. rolled ball, an upright at the players end of the bowling alley, and upon which the saidcords extending from the pins are guidingly supported for player-manipulation when in the usual playing position, and a slidable member 43 which isfrictionally supported in a transverse position upon the said upright at the players end of the bowling alley to be manually slid up and down, said cords each being respectively provided with cordposition-retaining enlargements, the said slidable member having notch-like formations for engagement with the said respective enlargements of the said cords, and thereby preventing movement thereof in one direction while so engaged, and locking means to secure said sliding frame in its lowermost position.

6. A construction in accordance with claim 2,

but wherein ball elevator means is provided to elevate a ball or balls, said means including a box-like ball elevator l8 having c penings"in the sides thereof for the entry of balls from the floor of the bowling alley and the discharge of balls for return to the players position, a chute positioned to receive the balls from the discharge opening of the elevator l8 and by which the balls may be returned to the players position, and meansto lift said box-like elevator l8 directly vertically consisting of acord l4 pulley-supported directly abovethe member l8, said cord 14 thence extending to and connected to the cord for elevating the-uppermost of the said two vertically movable frames.

7. Player-operated bowling apparatus for use in usual bowling alleys and employing a ball or balls and a set of pins to be knocked over thereby, a series of non-elastic cords respectively attached at one end to the pins and thence extending to and supported in convenient position to be pulled by the player or players when standing at the player end of the bowling alley, when the pins or any of them have been knocked down by a rolled ball, together with shock absorbing means for each one of said cords, each of said shock absorbing means consisting of a weighted lever 83 pivotally mounted for movement by the cord per? taining thereto, said lever 83 being provided with an eye 85 through which the corresponding cord passes, a second weighted lever 18 pivoted below and in substantially vertical alignment with said lever 83 and movable by the lever 83 whereby, when a pin is knocked down, the cord pertaining thereto pulls down one end of the lever 83, thereby moving it until it strikes the lever 78 and moves the same upon its own pivot against the resistance of the weight carried thereby.

8. Player-operated bowling apparatus for use in usual bowling alleys and employing a ball or balls and a set of pins to be knocked over thereby, a series of non-elastic cords respectively attached at one end to the pins and thence extending to anaemia and; supported in: convenient position-to be pulled .mentwith said. lever 83. and upon which the lever 83;is'pivotal1y supported-inv such position; that when apin is knocked down, the cord pertaining thereto pulls down one end of the lever 83 andrmoves it uponits. own pivot against. the stress of its own weight and causes it to strikethe lever l8 and. move the latter upon its own pivot against the resistance of the weight carried thereby;

9. Player-operated bowling apparatus in ac.- cordance with claim 2, wherein'the cord extend. ing ina: direction away from the. upper frame. is connected thereto by a series of converging cords connected to said cord at a, common point and having their divergent ends connected to thecorners of said frame.

10.- Player-operated bowling apparatus in" accordance with claim 2,. wherein the cord extend.- ing in a direction away from the upper frame is connected thereto by aseries of converging cords connected to said cordat a common. point and having their divergent ends-connected to the corners: of. said frame, and wherein the said cord that extends in a. direction away from the upper one of said movable: frames has: a movable. pulley block attached thereto, said movahle'pulley block being provided with a plurality of' pulleys,- and wherein there. is: a second but stationary pulley block provided with a plurality of pulleys, said pulley blocks constituting the said movement transmitting connecting means, and wherein the said second. cord to-elevate theuppermostrframe and lower the other frame is passed back and forth about all the pulleysin said pulley blocks andsecured at one end to said stationary block.

11. Player-operated. bowling apparatus in accordance-with claim 2,- wherein the cord. extending in a direction away from the upper trame is connected thereto by a series of converging. cords connected. to said. cord, at a common point-and having their divergent. ends connected. to the corners of said frame, and wherein the. said cord tov which the converging cords are connected has amovabl'e pulley block attachedtheretoand provided with a plurality of pulleys, and. wherein there is. a second-but. stationary pulley block provided with a plurality of pulleys,.and wherein the said. second cord that, when pulled upon, elevates theiuppermost-frame and lowers the other frame is connected atone end. to said stationary pulley blockv and is passed back and forth aboutv all the pulleysin said pulley bloclm. the said card after so passing about the pulleys in said pulley blocks extending toa pulley at the players end of the alley and there terminating so as to be. pulled upon by a player at the appropriate time, said pulleyblocks" constituting the said movement transmitting connecting means.

12. Player-operated. bowling apparatus in accordance with claim 2-, wherein the upper frame is substantially rectangular, and wherein the cord extending: in a direction away fromth -upper frame is connected thereto by av series of converging cords connected to said cord. at a common point and having their divergent ends connected to the corners. of said frame, and wherein there is a movable pulley block. with a plurality of pulleys therein and a co-acting stationary pulley block-said,- pulley blocks constitutingthe said movement transmitting connecting means, the said movable pulley block being connected. to said cord that is connected to the said series: of converging cords extending from the upper frame, and wherein the said second cord is connected atone end to said stationary pulley block and passes back and forth about said pulleys and. thence to the players end ofthe-bowling apparatus, said movable pulley block providing by its pulley actionv upon. said cord to which the converging cords are connected for the operation of. the parts connected thereto with the application of materially less force.

JOSEPH E. LAFERRIERE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in. the file of. this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

